AsiaPaul Loc: Vietnam

What is the school of thought regarding file transfer of images from SDHC memory cards? I heard that it may be safer to keep the memory card in the camera and only use the USB wire transfer. But does this make it slower to transfer the files?

Another question related to SDHC cards. should I always buy the 300x speed?

Thanks

AP

alliebess Loc: suburban Philadelphia

I've been told by several professionals that it is best to use a card reader.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I've read that a card reader is faster than the USB cable, but how much time are we talking about, anyway? I use EYE-Fi cards, and they are slower, but I don't have to do any connecting. It just happens.

Aside from Eye-Fi, I prefer to do as little connecting, opening, and closing as possible. It's probably nothing to be concerned about, but opening and closing little doors and putting cards or cables in and out might lead to a problem, if only through carelessness. With CF cards, you have all those little pins to get bent.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

discussed many times, really personal choice

Dlevon Loc: New Jersey

Using the camera connection uses up battery. It's your choice. I always use a card reader.

David Kay Loc: Arlington Heights IL

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

CurreyPhoto Loc: Reddick, Florida

I used to use a card reader all the time because it is somewhat faster on my camera/computer combination than a direct connection to my camera. Then I lost a memory card through carelessness after down loading from it and I upgraded my computer so it no longer reads my card reader. So, through no choice of mine, I use the USB connection for downloading from camera to computer now. It does fine and I haven't lost a card since. :D

authorizeduser Loc: Monroe, Michigan

I have a D200 which uses compact flash memory. I have read that it is risky to take the memory in and out due to the many pins which can be bent. Personally I have been doing this for years and never bent a pin. With the D200 the memory is in a tight track and unless you get stupid there is no way to accidentally bent a pin I can see. With this said, I bought a multi-card reader and installed it into a 3.5" slot on my computer. Works fast and alleviates the pain in the butt cord method. Using a card reader is convenient and much faster. My computer can suck the pictures off the compact flash at 25 mb/s. Several hundred photos takes seconds instead of minutes and does not kill the camera battery. :thumbup:

David Kay Loc: Arlington Heights IL

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

Wire transfer is much slower. You must also have the camera on to do it which runs down your battery and puts more run time on your internal circuitry.

Some people think the SD card slot in the camera is going to wear out. I've never seen such a thing in the last 6 years so I think it's unfounded paranoia from the days of CF cards that had little tiny needle pins that could get bent.

Personally, I've always put the card directly into the card reader of my PC computers and never have a problem. SD cards should be treated with care and not jammed in and tapped with your palm, or yanked out while the reader is working, but any idiot should know that.

I like the direct connection of the card reader without a camera in between personally. The card acts like an external hard drive and you can copy/paste or cut/paste into Windows Explorer. LR4 will also automatically see the card and open itself for importing if you set it that way.

I'm a direct card reader fanatic personally. Either way, the photos are going through the USB buss of the PC but avoiding two USB connectors that can corrode and several feet of wire is my preferred method.

Bear123 Loc: Wild & Wonderful West Virginia

I use the card reader build in the front of my computer, don't have to dig out the connecting cable for the camera.

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

Card reader is faster and less dangerous. I was at a very low humidity location last week and wound up having to use a conductive wrist strap to avoid blowing up my USB connected smartphone.

olcoach Loc: Oregon

I have always used a card reader and have had no problems. The less stress I can put on my camera the happier I am.

krf4 Loc: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

I use a battery grip that would require being removed to access the card, therefore I use the USB connection. Keep in mind that the camera batteries need to be fully charged if downloading a lot of pictures.